Trial under way for woman in dog-dragging case

Puppy tied to truck's trailer hitch

A trial is under way for an Illinois woman accused of a misdemeanor animal-abuse count related to a pit bull puppy found dragging behind her ex-husband's pickup truck down a St. Louis interstate.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported prosecutors on Tuesday rested their case in the bench trial of 41-year-old Benetta Johnson, of East St. Louis.

Authorities believe Johnson tried to return the dog now dubbed Trooper to her ex-husband and, according to her statement to police, told her 13-year-old son last November to put the dog in the bed of her former spouse's pickup truck.

The teen instead tied the puppy to the truck's trailer hitch, and the driver didn't see the dog and began driving down Interstate 55.

The dog survived but underwent a series of operations.

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